Rep. Marc LaHood

Maddy summaryHB 2587 requires Texas hospitals to report costs of providing care to patients without legal immigration status. Hospitals must ask about immigration status during intake (without affecting care) and submit quarterly data on costs and financial impact to a state agency. The agency then compiles an annual report for lawmakers by November 1, detailing total costs and how these expenses affected hospitals. This applies to all Texas hospitals serving patients who were not lawfully present at the time of care, focusing on transparency about uncompensated care expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 4176 allows certain non-peace officer employees of law enforcement agencies (who complete approved training) to investigate minor motor vehicle collisions under specific conditions. It applies to collisions with no injuries/death, property damage under $5,000, and no offenses beyond minor fines. These employees must file a written summary report electronically within 10 days, similar to officers handling more serious incidents. The bill updates Texas Transportation Code sections to clarify this expanded authority and reporting requirement, effective September 1, 2025. It directly affects law enforcement agencies' non-sworn staff conducting preliminary collision investigations.

Maddy summaryHB 3358 clarifies who qualifies as an "emergency service provider" under Texas law for access to critical incident stress management and crisis response services. It expands the definition to specifically include law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services providers, dispatchers, rescue service providers, and staff from district attorney offices (like attorneys and investigators). This change directly affects these professionals by ensuring they are explicitly covered under the state's support services for trauma response. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3658 requires Texas-licensed insurance adjusters to complete at least one hour of continuing education each licensing period focused on building codes. This education must cover damage assessment, policy coverage interpretations involving building codes, and reconstruction standards for insured losses. The bill mandates that the Texas Department of Insurance develop or certify these courses to be offered through multiple formats (classroom, online, self-paced). The law applies directly to insurance adjusters renewing their licenses under Chapter 4101 of the Insurance Code and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2239 amends Texas Penal Code Section 46.03 to create a new exception for "location-restricted knives," meaning these knives would not be considered illegal weapons under specific subsections (a)(7) or (13) when carried in certain locations. The bill does not change where knives are prohibited but modifies how certain knives are treated under existing law for offenses involving restricted locations. It takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date. This is a procedural change to the Penal Code, not a new prohibition.

Maddy summaryHB 3311 amends Texas Estates Code to prioritize child support claims over other debts when settling a decedent's estate. It reclassifies confirmed child support arrears (via court judgment or Title IV-D agency records) as "Class 3" claims, meaning they must be paid before secured debts like tax liens (now "Class 4"). This directly affects families relying on child support payments and estates settling debts after a person's death. The change applies only to estates of individuals who die on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4870 creates a grant program administered by the Texas Office of Court Administration to provide legal assistance to relative and kinship caregivers. It directly affects low-income caregivers (at or below 400% of the federal poverty level) who are taking legal responsibility for children, such as relatives assuming care or non-parent adults seeking legal authorization. The program funds nonprofits to help with specific legal matters including consent for treatment, authorization agreements, temporary care arrangements, and custody proceedings under Texas Family Code. Grants require contracts ensuring public benefit and allow the Office to adopt rules for eligibility, application processes, and monitoring.

Maddy summaryHB 3717 establishes a Texas grant program to fund private entities conducting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug development trials using ibogaine. The program targets organizations (for-profit, nonprofit, or public benefit corporations) that can design and execute FDA trials to seek approval of ibogaine as a medication for treating opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and other neurological or mental health conditions where ibogaine shows effectiveness. Applicants must submit detailed trial designs, team expertise, and FDA approval strategies. The grant covers costs for these trials, aiming to advance ibogaine's potential approval as a treatment option.

Maddy summaryHJR 138 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to prohibit the state legislature from imposing taxes based on the carbon content of fuels or emissions of carbon dioxide from goods and services. If approved by voters, it would prevent Texas from enacting any carbon tax policy. The bill failed to pass the Texas Legislature on May 12, 2025, so it did not advance to a voter referendum. This would have directly affected all Texans by blocking a potential state-level carbon tax mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 1777 requires Texas driver's licenses and personal ID certificates to include a visible designation indicating the holder is a registered sex offender, as mandated by a court order under Texas law. This designation applies only to licenses issued or renewed on or after September 1, 2025, leaving existing licenses unaffected. The bill directly affects individuals subject to sex offender registration under Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. It does not change registration requirements but adds a standardized visual identifier to identification documents for public awareness. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, as specified in Section 3.